Method of making plates for wall-coverings and similar purposes.



E. GBRSABEGK. v METHOD OI MAKING PLATES FOR WALL OOVFEINGS AND SIMILARPUBPUBES. APPLICATION FILED OUT; 21, 1913.

1,107,286. Patented Aug. 18, 1914 THE NORRIS PETERS CO; PHOTOJJTHQ.WASHINGYON. D. C-

EIVIIL GERSABEOK, 0F POTSDAM, GERMANY.

METHOD OF MAKING PLATES FOE WALL-COVERINGS AND SIMILAR PURPOSES.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application filed October 21, 1913. Serial No. 796,398.

To all whom it may, concern Be it known that I, EMIL GnRsABnoK, asubject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Potsdam, Germany, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Platesfor VVall-Coverings and Similar Purposes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a novel method for making plates moreparticularly adapted for covering walls, and ceilings, though they mayalso be used for other purposes. The plates are so constituted thattheir surfaces embody an exact and sharp reproduction, of an originalpattern, showing for example the most delicate veins and grains of anatural wooden surface. Thus the plates produced in accordance with myinvention cannot be readily distinguished from natural wood, whilefurthermore etchings and relief patterns can also be ac curatelyreproduced. The plates may be easily secured to the wall, they beingprovided with a plastic back, that may be pressed into appropriateretaining means, with which the wall is provided.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a section of a mold forcarrying my invention into effect, and Fig. 2, a section through thecompleted plate showing it applied to a wall.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the mold is composed of a frame awhich is reinforced by angle-irons b. The matrix or pattern 0 thesurface of which is to be reproduced may consist of an inverted relief,a negative carving, or of a plate previ ously produced in accordancewith my invention from a wooden veneer or similar article. Matrix 0 isadvantageously supported within frame a, upon a smooth and strong base dwhich may be reinforced by lattice work 6. To the face of plate 0 isapplied a thin-flowing plastic mass or facing 7", in which may beembedded a suitable reinforcing layer it. To the back of the facing f isthen applied a second plastic mass or backing g, which may be bulged asat i to here project beyond the top of frame a. The plastic mass formingthe facing f should be so constituted that it sets more slowly than themass constituting the backing Facing f may be composed of plaster Paris,cement or similar material, to which may be added some sugar whichserves to retard its setting. The sugar also serves to harden thesurface of the set mass, and to permit any pigments to be evenlydistributed. The facing is best applied to the matrix, by being squirtedover the same by means of an airjjet; thus preventing the formation ofstreaks, while furthermore the forcible throwing of the mass in avertical direction against the matrix, will cause the mass to closelyhug the contour of the latter. The backing 9 may be composed of the samematerial as the facing, minus the settingretarding addition of thesugar, or the backing may be formed of different ingredients, the pointbeing that the facing has the property of setting more slowly than thebacking. Qwing to this property, the backing will set prior to thesetting of the facing, and will present to the latter, while the settingof the facing is going on, a rigid or unyielding resistance. much as thefacing, during the setting operation will expand, but cannot expandrearwardly, it will become tightly pressed into all of the pores, veinsor other lines of the matrix, so as to form a sharp replica of the same.Thus in case the matrix is a true negative of a natural wooden surface,all the pores, veins and grains of such surface will be reproduced insuch a perfect manner that the finished article is hardlydistinguishable from the original.

The plates or plaques produced as described may be employed moreparticularly for wall plates, in supplantation of Wooden panels, butthey may also be used for containers, closets, doors or a variety ofother articles. Fig. 2, shows the plate applied as a wall covering.Along the wall to is spread over spacing blocks 4; and at a distance of13 cm., a wire screen a. The covering plate should be provided on itsprotuberance z with grooves 2' corresponding to the blocks 4), and, atthe moment when the backing g of such plate, starts to set, the chargedmold is righted and pressed against the screen a. In this way the screenbecomes embedded within the protuberance 6, while the spacers o areaccommodated within the grooves 2' so that the plate will becomeattached in an insulated manner to the wall. Thus the plate willconstitute a sound-proof wall covering, while its insulation will permitthe wall to properly dry out, without causing any salpetry exudations ofthe stones or Inasmortar to show upon the covering, the air space 9effecting furthermore a rapid drying out of the wall. 7

I claim.

1. Method of forming an article of the character described, whichconsists in applying to a matrix, a first comparatively slowly settingplastic mass, and applying to the back of said first plastic mass, asecond comparatively quickly setting plastic mass.

2. Method of forming an article of the character described, whichconsists in applying to a matrix, a first comparatively slowly settingplastic mass containing sugar, and applying to the back of said firstplastic mass, a second comparatively quickly setting plastic mass.

3. Method of forming a wall covering which consists in spanning a wirescreen over the wall, charging a mold containing a matrix, with a firstcomparatively slowly said spacing members and supporting member.

EMIL GERSABE CK. Witnesses:

VVOLDEMAR HAUPT, 'HENRY HASPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner ofj Pate-nts, Washington, D. G.

